Reading Time: 4 minutes A wheat-growing competition that started in the U.K. has crossed the Atlantic with the promise of helping farmers increase their yields. Started by a British agricultural consultancy a decade ago, a Yield Enhancement Network — or YEN — uses an annual competition as a learning tool by having participating farmers share field data. Computer modelling […] Read more
Yield contest aims to make every grower a winner
Ontario and two American states launch their version of Yield Enhancement Network
New initiative aims to increase Prairie wheat yields
Filling the gap: Yields are only 40 to 70 per cent of their theoretical max, and new study aims to close that gap
Reading Time: 4 minutes Brian Buckman really only has Mother Nature to thank — or blame — for the gap between the yield he’s getting and what’s possible on his wheat fields. “A perfect example was 2020 — we hit it out of the ballpark with the best yield we ever had, and then in 2021, we saw the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market remains firm
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $3 lower on average; calves were relatively unchanged but limited numbers were on offer. Strength in the Canadian dollar appeared to temper demand from south of the border in the 750-plus-lb. weight categories. Last week was the first full week of sales in both […] Read more
Seed quality appears to be better than expected despite heat, drought
Germination rates from fall tests by 20/20 Seed Labs were well above the 90 per cent rate
Reading Time: 2 minutes A “seed quality disaster” has been averted but supply is another story. “For most of the seeds that we tested this season, we expected to see some level of dormancy, but we haven’t seen much of that,” Moses Palmer of 20/20 Seed Labs wrote in an article on Alberta Seed Guide’s website last month. “Mostly, […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Alberta bids see slight gains
MarketsFarm — Alberta feedlots are only buying feed barley and wheat on a hand-to-mouth basis as demand remains unchanged, according to a local trader. “A lot of the feedlots we work with are buying what they needed and getting covered,” said Agfinity Inc. senior trader Erin Harakal from Stony Plain, Alta. High-delivered bids are $12.93 […] Read more
Gross revenue tally provides ‘interesting’ take on drought impact
If you had average yields and captured high fall prices, your per-acre revenue might have gone up
Reading Time: 2 minutes It won’t be of any comfort for those who had a wreck this year, but high prices mean gross revenue for most crops may have been as good or better for some compared to last year, according to a provincial market analyst. “Using the average yields and prices, there is a significant offset of the […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Feedlots, elevators filled with corn
MarketsFarm — As 2022 begins, feed grain markets in Alberta have been “status quo,” according to a grain buyer. “There’s a lot of grain that has been pre-contracted in terms of corn coming in from the United States,” said Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “Lots of priority has been towards execution, making […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market has positive factors
There were no feeder cattle sales last week due to the holiday season; however, this didn’t stop many cow-calf producers from inquiring about the market outlook for 2022. This past year was one for the record books. There is no doubt about it. Waves of COVID-19 caused beef demand to be quite volatile from month […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Prices to remain steady until spring
MarketsFarm – Feed grains in Western Canada are seeing limited trading during the holiday season, but the demand for feed remains at feedlots. “The trade has been very slow. We’re kind of just in execution mode right now,” said Evan Peterson, trader for JGL Commodities in Moose Jaw, Sask. “Stocks are tight on the farm, […] Read more
Alberta cereal commissions ‘halfway there’ on merger vote
If wheat growers vote in favour next month, a plebiscite will be held on sealing the deal
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta Barley is one step closer to amalgamating with Alberta Wheat following a vote in favour of the proposal at the barley growers’ annual general meeting early this month. “At our AGM last week, the Alberta Barley delegates voted highly in favour of moving forward,” said chair Tara Sawyer. “Now the next step is the […] Read more